The giant girders of the new indoor complex that loom over England’s training base are not the only thing rising from firm foundations, with Stuart Lancaster insisting that his callow team are ready to show their growing maturity in Sunday’s Six Nations match against Wales at Twickenham.

England’s head coach rallied to the defence of his inexperienced side on Friday when asked about Warren Gatland’s assertion that the English “boys” who suffered thumping defeat in Cardiff last year may not be ready to become “men”. Lancaster was able to name only one Test Lion in his starting XV, fly-half Owen Farrell, set against the dozen in the Welsh ranks. England are raw in terms of caps but they have form on their side. Certainly Lancaster has no concerns about their sporting manhood.

“I have never thought that about my team,” said Lancaster, rebutting the notion that they are too young to prosper. “Every since that first summer tour of 2012 in South Africa they have shown that they are able to go toe-to-toe against any international team. We were embryonic two years ago but there has been definite progression. This match is not about what happened in the past, or even the future with the 2015 Rugby World Cup in mind, it is all about the day itself.”

Lancaster’s only minor anxiety is the tight muscle in Joe Launchbury’s back that forced him to miss training on Friday, although the head coach was adamant that the Wasps lock would be good to go. Wales, though, were forced into a late reshuffle after second row Luke Charteris pulled out with a neck problem to be replaced by the Llanelli Scarlets novice, Jake Ball. On such matters do the odds tilt.

There is little doubt that England are a more assured proposition than 12 months ago, even though they approached that game with a Grand Slam in their sights and on a run of five successive victories. They were blown away by the relentless power game of Wales, rocked by the seething Millennium atmosphere, eventually cracking under the duress.

Those days are gone, no matter the pointed nature of Gatland’s remarks. This is an England side with backbone, as shown by their comebacks against New Zealand, France and Ireland, matches in which they fell behind only to rise from the canvas, even if only managing to deliver a knockout blow against the Irish a fortnight ago, something that has eluded Wales for the past two seasons.

England have proven that it is not the depth of the biographical pen-pics that matter but the size of the heart in a team. That sense of togetherness has been amply demonstrated, the sum of the parts greater than the weight of individual honours. The pack is more resolute, aided by the new scrum engagement rulings which have lessened the impact of players such as Adam Jones and Richard Hibbard in the front row, the line-out sharper and the back row better balanced with a genuine No 8, Ben Morgan, packing down mid-ships. Morgan has to show that he can go the distance as he replaces the injured Billy Vunipola, and make the same bullocking impact he has made from the bench. England cannot afford for him to drift in and out.

There has been shape as well as purpose in England’s play, orchestrated by Farrell in tandem with a revitalised Danny Care. Half-back is the one area of the field where England look to have an edge.

“We feel like a completely different team to a year ago,” said Farrell, one of only half a dozen survivors from that experience. “I certainly never again want to feel like I did then. You evolve as a team every time you go out. Even when we went behind against Ireland, there was a brilliant feeling behind the posts, no panic, just a desire to get back up there and score. We have shown the intent in our game and can play from all over the field.”

England will need to lay one particular bogey to rest, that of not scoring a try in their last 3½ matches against Wales, 277 blank minutes. Mike Brown has shown greater attacking potency up-field this season, doing what he does in the opposition last third of the field, what he does as a matter of course coming out of his own 22. Wing Jonny May will be well advised to get the ball down over the try-line rather than fumble it has he did against Ireland. May has pace and is a danger to Wales.

England’s midfield axis of Farrell, Billy Twelvetrees and Luther Burrell is a key element. It has to be defensively iron-clad in quelling the seminal threat posed by Jamie Roberts, whose crash-ball style underscores Wales’s attacking strategy. With Manu Tuilagi on the radar again, this is the time for Twelvetrees to show all that he has to offer, creatively with ball in hand and tactically with the sort of pinpoint kicking game that Ireland used so productively against Wales.

Gatland’s side push up in defence, leaving Leigh Halfpenny to sweep at the rear, inviting the kick wide or in behind. Any misfired kicks though will be run back with interest by wings George North and Alex Cuthbert, England’s nemesis in Cardiff.

England will again look to rouse the Twickenham crowd to Millennium decibel levels. Contrived nationalism will not do that but devilment and thunder will. England are looking for their first Triple Crown since 2003. It will take a Sabbath day passion play to secure it, a coming-of-age performance from Lancaster’s bright young things.